Recent rain is likely to help drought-hit farmers during rabi crop

Severe drought has hit parts of Kolar, Tumkur, Chikkaballapur and Bangalore Rural districts. The sowing acreage in these districts has come down, and farmers may be deprived of a good crop this year.

The State Government has set a target of 72 lakh ha for sowing in the kharif period. Till the end of August, sowing was completed only in 60.57 lakh ha. And sowing in 20.3 lakh ha was not supported by good rainfall. There is no agriculture activity in 31.73 lakh ha.
Parts of Bijapur, Gulbarga, Raichur and Koppal districts received good rain last week. But the rainfall does not offer much help to farmers. Revenue Department Secretary Narayanaswamy said districts in the north Karnataka region received good rain, but it was not a boon for farmers as the showers arrived when the kharif period was almost over. However, the late monsoon showers may help farmers in these districts when they grow jowar and sunflower in the rabi period. Besides, the rainfall may help recharge the water table.

The Agriculture Department expects good cultivation in the rabi season. Agriculture Department Principal Secretary S Subramanya says the sowing period for kharif is coming to an end. But the farmers may go for rabi crop. The department, therefore, expects the rabi sowing coverage to go up from 33 lakh ha to 39 lakh ha.

Flood alert in Sharavathi
Rivers, rivulets and tanks in several districts were overflowing  following rains in the last one week. The administration has issued a flood alert to people, according to reports from Karwar, Shimoga, Madikeri, Chikamaglur, Mangalore and Udupi.

River in spate
The Sharavathi river is in spate; and people in Honnavar and Bhatkal taluks have been alerted. Water in the Aghanashini and Gangavali rivers is increasing rapidly.
The water level in the Linganamakki reservoir is rising owing to heavy rain during the past five days. Inflow into the reservoir crossed one lakh cusec by Friday evening and the water level stood at 1815.55 feet as against the maximum level of 1819 feet.
The Bhadra reservoir is overflowing, and 37,600 cusec water is being released by lifting all its four crest gates.
The river is flowing above the bridge in Bhadravati city paralysing vehicular movement.  People in the low-lying areas on the banks of Tunga and Bhadra rivers have been moved to safer places.

The Triveni Sangama in Kodagu is inundated. In the last 24 hours, an average rainfall of 55.07mm has been received.
3 drown
At Balehonnur,  Chikmagalur district, three people drowned when a boat carrying nine overturned in the Bhadra river near Khandya. Jagadish (32), his nephew Vishwas (12) and niece Varshini (10) died. Jagadish saved six people from drowing before he was washed away.  A massive landslide, said to be the largest in the past 40 years, on National Highway 66 has cut off the road between coastal Karnataka and Malenadu.